Carpet-stretcher.



G. N. DEHLINGER.

CARPET STRBTGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1911.

v 1,033,552. Patented July 23,1912.

- 2 SHBETSQSHEET 1.

G. N. DEHLINGER.

CARPET STRETOHER.

APPLICATION rum) AU'G.10, 1911.

4 Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL N. DEHLINGER, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL N. DEHLINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVausau, in the county of Marathon, State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in carpet stretchers and more especially to that class of carpet stretchers comprising a pair of spaced heads provided with teeth adapted to engage the carpet and connected by an expansible member whereby the heads may be forced apart to stretch the carpet into place, and the object of my invention is to improve the construction and increase the etficiency of carpet stretchers of the above described type.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel means for securing the carpet engaging teeth in the cross bars of the stretcher heads.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of mechanism for extending the member connecting the stretcher heads. And a still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the carpet may be stretched transversely at the same time that it is being stretched longitudinally and thus enable one to force the carpet into proper position in the corner of a room.

lVit-h these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically pointed out in the claim which is attached to and forms a part of this application.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the carpet stretcher, parts of which are broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially in section and showing the expansion mechanism in one position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation partially in section, showing the operating mechanism in its other position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation partially in section of the actuating mechanism by means of which the carpet is stretched transversely.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 10, 1911.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Serial No. 643,376.

my invention will be seen to consist primarily of a pair of stretching heads 1 and 2 connected by an expansible member which is designated as a whole by the numeral 3.

I have shown my carpet stretcher as composed largely of metallic pipe sections because a stretcher so constructed is economical to manufacture and because the length of the expansible member may be readily increased to any desired extent by the simple addition of extra pipe sections. It will be understood however that the device my be constructed of any preferred material such as wood, without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of my invention.

Each of the stretching heads is formed of a pipe member 4 having a centrally positioned T into which is threaded one end of a second pipe section 6. Suitable braces 7 connect this pipe section with the member 4 by which means the latter member is firmly secured in place. members 4 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart, transversely extending apertures and a pointed pin 8 is passed outwardly through these apertures until its head rests against the rear face of the pipe. member when the pin is bent downwardly against the forward face of the pipe and then outwardly to form a carpet engaging hook. As will be readily seen this peculiar manner of securing the pins in place causes the strain applied to the hooks formed thereby to be directed chiefly upon the pipe member 4:, with the result that no matter how great the strain the pins do not become loosened.

As shown, one of the pipe sections 6 is greater in diameter than the other whereby the other may be telescopically mounted therein and the other pipe section 6 as shown is provided with a plurality of spaced apart vertical bores 9 adapted to be engaged by the fingers 10 and 11 of the mechanism which as a whole is designated by the numeral 12 and which is adapted to move said member in and out of the other pipe member 6 to move the stretching heads towardand away from each other. The end of the larger pipe member 6 is preferably provided with a coupling 13 by means of which additional pipe sections may be inserted if necessary to render the stretcher sufliciently long. I

The actuating mechanism, which as a whole has been designated by the numeral Each of the pipe 12 consists of a substantially rectangular shaped frame 14 the ends 15 of which are apertured at 16 in such a manner that the frame may be positioned over the smaller of the pipe sections 6 and slidable thereon, said apertures however being small enough to prevent the frame from sliding over the larger of the pipes 6. Pivoted intermediate its length between the sides of this frame is a hand lever 17 which consists of a single strip of metal doubled upon itself to form spaced apart sides between which are pivotably mounted the oppositely disposed hooked shaped fingers 10 and 11 the former of which is below the pipe section 6 while the latter is above the same. Secured in the upper end of this lever and between the sides thereof is a hand grip 18.

The finger 10, as shown, is extended beyond its pivotal point and then bent downwardly and terminates in a weighted end 19, said finger together with its extension forming a substantially Z-shaped member. The linger 11 is provided with an integrally formed upwardly and forwardly extending lever arm 20 by means of which it may be readily raised and lowered. A pipe section 21 is closed at one end by means of a plug one end of which extends beyond the pipe section whereby a shoulder is termed and the other end 01' this pipe is provided with a coupling 23 by means of which additional pipe sections may be secured thereto. This pipe 21 is adapted to be applied to either of the stretching heads by the insertion of the free end of the plug into one of the ends of the pipe 4t of the coupling head in such a manner that the shoulder 22 bears against the end of the pipe 4:. A pipe section 24 is provided at one end with a bearing head 25 and secured in the other end of this section 24 and extending beyond the same is a threaded rod 26 upon which is a hand nut 27. This pipe 2 1- is applied to the pipe 21 by inserting the free end of the rod into the end of the pipe 21 until the nut bears against the end of the coupling 23.

In operation the stretcher is positioned upon the carpet and the latter is engaged by the hooks of the stretching heads in the cus tomary manner when the expansion mechanism 12 is actuated to force the stretching heads apart and thus stretch the carpet. This mechanism 12 is actuated as follows: The lever 17 is first swung toward the stretching head 1 until the finger 11 engages in one of the bores 9 in the pipe sec tion 6 when the lever is swung in the opposite direction, thus forcing the two heads apart. This swinging is continued until the finger 10 because of its weighted end 19 engages in the bore 9 which is next to the bore engaged by the finger 11. The lever is then swung in the opposite direction and it will be seen that the pipe sections 6 will be still forced apart, this time because of the engagement of the finger 10. This operation is repeated until the carpet has been sufiiciently stretched.

It the operator desired to stretch the carpet transversely as well as longitudinally as is necessary, in forcing it into a corner, the pipe sections 21 and 2st are applied and additional sections it necessary are added to bring the head 25 against the side wall of the room, when as will be readily understood the hand nut 27 may be turned to force the pipe members 21 and 24, apart and so force the stretching head into the corner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that l have provided an extremely simple and etlicient form of carpet stretcher and one which is capable of stretching the carpet both longitudinally and transversely at the same time.

What I claim is A carpet stretcher, comprising a pair of stretching heads, an expansible member con necting said heads, and a second expansible member adapted to be detachably connected to the end of said stretching heads and to work at right angles to the first mentioned expansible member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CARL N. DEHLINGER.

/Vitnesses ETTA HERMAN, JOHN P. Fonn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

